Health

An unusual heart rhythm disorder, also known as Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), is more common in people with long Covid, according to a study.  The study found that the condition, where the heart beats abnormally fast when changing position from lying down to standing up, is more common in middle-aged women than men. For people affected with POTS, standing up is a challenge. Their hearts beat faster than normal at rest and during exertion. Patients also experience fatigue and difficulties concentrating -- symptoms that are common in long Covid. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that POTS occurs in almost a third of patients with severe long Covid. "Previous, smaller studies have shown that there is a connection, but now we can say with certainty th...

US researchers have detected the Sudan Ebola virus strain in semen and breast milk among survivors, about eight months after infection, raising concerns about the potential for sexual and mother-to-child transmission.  Nearly 60 per cent of the survivors of an outbreak in Uganda from 2022-23 reported ongoing and debilitating health issues, even two years post-infection, that interfered with their daily lives, noted researchers at Washington State University. "This is the first time anyone has been able to closely follow Sudan Ebola survivors over the long term, and the results show the virus continues to affect people`s lives well after an outbreak ends," said lead researcher Kariuki Njenga, Professor in the WSU`s College of Veterinary Medicine. "Just as concerning is the fact we detect...

Mental Health has become an essential aspect of mainstream conversation, among Gen Z especially in recent times. From social media to boardrooms, the subject is spoken about more openly than ever before. Yet, there remains a gap between awareness and action. The conversations are happening, but translating them into everyday lifestyle changes and practical support is still a challenge. Despite openness, there is a lack of access to professional support. Mental health has merely ended up as  a ‘more talk, less action,’ activity. This World Mental Health Day, observed on Friday, October 10, it’s time to change the narrative and make it more about taking action. World Mental Health Day is celebrated annually on October 10. It is celebrated to raise awareness of mental health issues around t...

Glioblastomas -- the deadliest form of brain cancer -- affect much more than just the brain, scientists have found.  A team from the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC) and Albert Einstein College of Medicine has found the first evidence to show that glioblastoma can erode the skull, alter the makeup of skull marrow, and interfere with the body`s immune response. Importantly, drugs intended to inhibit skull-bone loss made the cancer more aggressive, according to results published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. "Our discovery that this notoriously hard-to-treat brain cancer interacts with the body`s immune system may help explain why current therapies -- all of them dealing with glioblastoma as a local disease -- have failed, and it will hopefully lead to better ...

Sperm freezing is becoming an essential option for men today. It is especially important for those about to undergo cancer treatment, which can harm fertility, or for men who wish to plan fatherhood later in life. Experts strongly advise men in such situations to consult a fertility specialist and consider freezing their sperm. Doing so preserves the possibility of having biological children in the future. Currently, a large number of men are suffering from various cancers such as testicular cancer, prostate cancer, blood cancers (like lymphoma or leukaemia), oral cancer, and lung cancer. “Many cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, may impact sperm production or affect reproductive organs. But there is no need to panic, as this may not happen in all pati...

Japanese researchers have identified two distinct stem cell lineages that drive tooth root and alveolar bone formation, offering key insights for future regenerative dental therapies.  The team from the Institute of Science Tokyo, used genetically modified mice and lineage-tracing techniques to shed light on the cell signaling mechanisms guiding differentiation in stem cells in the developing teeth. "Our findings provide a mechanistic framework for tooth root formation and pave the way for innovative stem-cell-based regenerative therapies for dental pulp, periodontal tissues, and bone," said Mizuki Nagata, Assistant Professor at the Institute`s Department of Periodontology. The ability to regenerate lost teeth and their surrounding bones is considered a holy grail in the field of dentist...

Higher levels of air pollution may not only harm your lungs but also worsen health for people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a multi-national study, that strengthened the connection between environmental health and sleep medicine.  While OSA is a common condition, many people do not realise they have it. People with OSA often snore loudly, their breathing starts and stops during the night, and they may wake up several times. The study, presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, revealed that, overall, for every one unit increase in PM10 -- tiny particles, 10 micrometers or smaller, released into the air by vehicle exhausts and industrial processes -- there was a modest but measurable increase in the patients` apnoea hypop...

A common gene variant may be delaying diagnoses of type 2 diabetes in millions of men worldwide, and increasing their risk of serious complications, according to a study.  G6PD deficiency is a genetic condition that affects more than 400 million people worldwide, and is especially prevalent among those with African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean backgrounds. It is more common in men and usually goes undetected because it rarely causes symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends routine screening for G6PD deficiency in populations where it is common, but it is not widely implemented in many other countries. Researchers from the University of Exeter, in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), found that men with G6PD deficiency are, on average, d...

Heart attack, stroke, or heart failure come with warning signs in 99 per cent cases, according to a large study that refuted the notion that these devastating events often strike people without warning signs.  The study led by Northwestern Medicine, US, and Yonsei University in South Korea, showed people with these deadly cardiovascular diseases -- which remain the leading cause of death worldwide -- had at least one risk factor above an optimal level beforehand. "We think the study shows very convincingly that exposure to one or more nonoptimal risk factors before these cardiovascular outcomes is nearly 100 per cent," said senior author Dr. Philip Greenland, professor of cardiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "The goal now is to work harder on finding ways t...

A reinfection with the SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind Covid-19 disease, doubled the risk of developing long Covid among children, according to a large study published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases.  The findings involving over 460,000 children and adolescents across 40 paediatric hospitals in the US found that after the first Covid infection, about 904 children per million developed long Covid within six months. Following a reinfection, this number more than doubled to approximately 1,884 children per million. The kids were more likely to suffer from a wide range of rare but persistent and sometimes serious conditions, including heart inflammation (myocarditis), blood clots, kidney injury, cognitive difficulties, fatigue, and respiratory problems. “These findings add to p...